Perceptions Of Threat Assessment As A Response to School Violence
Start Date
August 2024
End Date
August 2024
Location
ALT 208
Abstract
School shootings are currently at their highest recorded levels in the last 25 years (Rapa 2024). The trauma and fear associated with this violence psychologically impacts many students and educators—regardless of whether they have been harmed in a school shooting or not. Thus, educators, parents, and policymakers have turned their attention toward research-driven methods for preventing school shootings and improving school safety. Highly punitive, zero-tolerance school policies, though popularized following a series of shootings in the 1990s, are often ineffective responses to threats and violence. Instead, nine states have now mandated the use of threat assessment teams in schools. These are teams of school staff trained to respond to and address threats of harm and violence in their schools. Threat assessment guidelines often lead to less punitive outcomes, keeping children safe and in school.
Ohio is one such state where threat assessment is required in secondary schools, as mandated by Ohio House Bill 123 (HB 123). HB 123 requires that school-level threat assessment teams receive threat assessment team training from an approved TAT vendor by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The research completed by Dr. Brett Burton, Associate Professor of Education and Program Director of Educational Administration, will examine principal perceptions of threat assessment training and the implementation of threat assessment teams in schools. Based on his ongoing research, this presentation will focus on the issue of gun violence in schools and the perception and effectiveness of threat assessment as a response to school violence.
Perceptions Of Threat Assessment As A Response to School Violence
ALT 208
School shootings are currently at their highest recorded levels in the last 25 years (Rapa 2024). The trauma and fear associated with this violence psychologically impacts many students and educators—regardless of whether they have been harmed in a school shooting or not. Thus, educators, parents, and policymakers have turned their attention toward research-driven methods for preventing school shootings and improving school safety. Highly punitive, zero-tolerance school policies, though popularized following a series of shootings in the 1990s, are often ineffective responses to threats and violence. Instead, nine states have now mandated the use of threat assessment teams in schools. These are teams of school staff trained to respond to and address threats of harm and violence in their schools. Threat assessment guidelines often lead to less punitive outcomes, keeping children safe and in school.
Ohio is one such state where threat assessment is required in secondary schools, as mandated by Ohio House Bill 123 (HB 123). HB 123 requires that school-level threat assessment teams receive threat assessment team training from an approved TAT vendor by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The research completed by Dr. Brett Burton, Associate Professor of Education and Program Director of Educational Administration, will examine principal perceptions of threat assessment training and the implementation of threat assessment teams in schools. Based on his ongoing research, this presentation will focus on the issue of gun violence in schools and the perception and effectiveness of threat assessment as a response to school violence.
